Two days bled into one another as Bai Yu traversed the endless expanse of the Central Plains. The thrill of his newfound purpose fueled his journey, each passing hour edging him closer to the legendary Sword Emperor Gate. Suddenly, the tranquil skies erupted in a cacophony of screeches and roars. A hulking figure, engulfed in crackling flames, hurtled towards him at breakneck speed. With a sickening impact, the creature slammed into Bai Yu, sending him spiraling downwards like a broken kite.
He crashed onto the unforgiving ground with a bone-jarring thud. A metallic tang filled his mouth as he coughed up a mouthful of blood, his vision swimming. Groaning, he pushed himself into a sitting position, his gaze locking onto the source of his predicament.
A monstrous lion, bathed in an aura of fire, stood before him. Its eyes, burning embers reflecting a savage intelligence, gleamed with predatory hunger. This was no ordinary beast. Its monstrous energy signature screamed Stage 5 Demonic Beast, a creature capable of holding its own against even Law Domain Masters.
A frown creased Bai Yu's brow. This unexpected encounter was a stark reminder of the perils that lurked within the Central Plains. Here, danger could come from any direction, even in the seemingly clear skies. With a steely glint in his golden eyes, he unsheathed Snowflower. The polished blade shimmered in the sunlight, a beacon of defiance against the approaching inferno.
A flicker of surprise darted across the Demonic Lion's fiery eyes as Bai Yu vanished in a blur. In the blink of an eye he reappeared high above the beast. With a deep breath, he unleashed his technique – the Seven Star Soaring Dragon. Seven streaks of condensed Sword Qi erupted from Snowflower, swirling together with lightning speed to form a magnificent dragon of pure energy.
The majestic creature of Sword Qi roared silently as it plunged towards the Demonic Lion. The beast, sensing the imminent danger, let out a ferocious roar and attempted to dodge. However, Bai Yu's movements were as swift as the wind. The Sword Qi Dragon slammed into the Demonic Lion's flank with a thunderous boom. A deep gash ripped across the beast's fiery fur, exposing raw flesh and bone beneath.
The Demonic Lion, enraged by the searing pain, roared in fury. It lashed out with a powerful swipe of its massive paw, aiming to tear Bai Yu from the sky. But its attack found nothing but air. Bai Yu, anticipating the beast's retaliation, had already vanished once more.
He reappeared like a phantom above the Demonic Lion's head. In a single, fluid motion, he thrust Snowflower forward, the blade piercing through the beast's skull with a sickening crunch. The Demonic Lion's eyes, which moments ago burned with savage fury, dimmed instantly. Its colossal body crumpled to the ground with a heavy thud, lifeless.
Bai Yu landed gracefully on the ground, his chest heaving slightly.
Bai Yu wasted no time in securing his prize. With a practiced flick of his wrist, he extracted the pulsating Demonic Beast Core, a tangible reward for his victory. Pocketing the core, he scanned the horizon, his gaze resolute.